ENGLISH PRACTICE QUESTIONS

INSTRUCTION: Answer all the questions

SECTION A (COMPREHENSION PASSAGE)
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
How to Make the UBE Work
For Nigeria to make a success of the Universal Basic Education programme, all the
three tiers of government should give priority attention to teacher training and retraining,
production of early childhood educators, infrastructure development, provision of books and
instructional materials.
The Managing Director, University Press Plc, Mr. Samuel Kolawole, said these factors
were imperative to the development of a virile school system. The UBE is the major strategy
the Federal Government adopted in 1999 to attain the goal of Education for all by 2015. The
policy is aimed at ensuring improved and equitable access to basic, universal and compulsory
education for all the children of school age and continuing education for all illiterate adults.
Kolawole, in a chat at a workshop, said government should design an all-inclusive
approach to ensure the success of the scheme. He pointed out that one area of teacher
education to be looked at is the training of professional teachers for the pre-primary school
level of education. “If the UBE must succeed, we as nation should review the professional
qualification of teachers in pre-primary schools, we should give priority attention to this class
of teachers because whatever mistake they make when teaching the kids could be fatal. All
quality course books that could stimulate the kids should be massively provided for the
school system while the teachers already in the system should be retrained on a regular
basis”.
Oduntan, however, noted that the government and school owners should invest in human
and infrastructural development while teachers should imbibe the virtues of sound human
relationship, concern in the discharge of their duties.
QUESTIONS
(a) What is the full meaning of UBE?
(b) From your knowledge of Social Studies, mention the three tiers of government.
(c) Mention three things the government should do to see to the success of UBE.
(d) When and why was UBE adopted?
(e) Who are the target audience for the policy of UBE?
(f) Mr. Kolawole suggested that priority attention be given to a class of teachers, identify
this class from the passage.
 (g) Kolawole, in his contribution, suggested three things to be done for the success of
UBE. Identify them from the passage.
(h) Who again made a contribution apart from Mr. Kolawole?
(i) What two things did he suggest? (20 Marks)
SECTION B (COMPOSITION)
Attempt one question from here: your answer should be about 250 words long.
You are free to use the hints below each question and / or other ones you like.
Each question carries twenty (20) marks.

A. Write a letter to the Principal of your school on the poor living conditions in your
hostel and suggest ways of improving on them.
Hints
i. Title
ii. Mention the problems you have in the hostel
iii. Suggest what can be done to solve the problems
iv. Conclusion. 20 marks
B. Write a composition on how to play your favourite game
i. Introduction: Name and explain the Game
ii. Body: How it is played
iii. Conclusion. 20 marks
SECTION C (OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS)
Select appropriate option to fill in the gap
1) How ______money have you got in your purse?
a. many B) any C) much D) little
2) My mother has got _________ friends.
a. a little B) a lot of C) much D) little
3) We have got ________ apples and ________ oranges in the fridge.
a. A) a little / some B) many / a little C) a few / some D) few/few
4) Are there ________ children in the school garden?
a. a little B) any C) much D) few
5) My teacher hasn’t got _________ 6th grade student this year.
a. some B) any C) a few D) little
6) Sam, ____ there _____ milk in the fridge?
a. are / any B) is / any C) is / a few
7) How _______ cheese has she got in the basket?
a. many B) much C) any d) are
8) There are _______ English teachers in this school this year.
a. many B) much C) a little D) little
9) We haven’t got ______ toothpaste but we have got ____ tooth brushes. A)some /
some B) some / any C) any / some
 The first sentence is in the ACTIVE VOICE.
Choose the most correct way of saying the same thing in the PASSIVE
VOICE:
10) They were interviewing her for the job.
She ________________ for the job.
a). was being interviewed b) was interviewed c) has been interviewed
11) Tom is writing the letter.
a. The letter ________________ by Tom.
b. a).was written b) is being written c) has been written
12) Everyone understands English.
a. English ________________ by everyone.
a) is understood b) has been understood c) was understood
13) The employees brought up this issue during the meeting.
This issue ________________ by the employees during the meeting. a) has been
brought up b) is brought up c) was brought up .
14) The professor told him not to talk in class.
He ________________ by the professor not to talk in class.
a. has been told b) was told c) was being told

Choose, from the list below each sentence, the most appropriate interpretation for
the underlined expression.
15) Captain Kofi claimed that they fought heavily with the opposing troop for about five
weeks before the opponents finally showed their white flag. This means that the
opponent gave a signal of
a. (a) advance (b) surrender (c) victory (d) retreat (e) cease-fire.
16) Dolapo had long nursed the hope of becoming a medical doctor. This means that
Dolapo
a. has been a medical doctor once.
b. had long been an amateur doctor.
c. had been hoping to become a doctor one day.
d. could have been a medical doctor if she had wanted.
e. had long been a medical doctor.
17) Experience has shown that it pays to strike when the iron is hot. The underlined
expressions means
a. take advantage of an available opportunity.
b. escape when violence is about to break out.
c. strike a person with hot iron rods.
d. let the blacksmith work on a heater gold.
e. take decisions when one’s anger is at the peak.
18) The new President received his visitor with open arms. This means that the new
President.
a. gave every visitor a perfidious smile.
b. allowed some visitors in without any drilling.
c. invited all his visitors warmly.
d. welcomed his visitors warmly.
e. loved each of his visitors.
19) The counselor said that as his hands were full, he would not be able to see me this
week. This means that he
a. was tired of attending to clients.
b. was tired of attending to customers.
 c. had a lot of money in his hands.
d. was carrying a heavy bundle of files.
e. was very busy.
20) Mallam Sule is a white sepulcher. What he does is at variance with what he preaches.
This means that Mallam Sule is(a) rebel. (b) a preacher. (c) a ghost (d) a
hypocrite. (e) a pastor.
21) Ademola is a lucky boy. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. This means
that Ademola (a) always uses a silver spoon to eat. (b) was born a weakling.(c) was
born as a lucky champion.(d) won a silver spoon at a lottery.(e) was born into a rich
family.
22) Mercy was asked to take heart at such a trying period. This means that Mercy was
advised to (a) take care of her health. (b) be courageous in the face of difficulties.
(c) avoid a heart attack. (d) examine her conscience thoroughly. (e) test her
heartbeat and blood pressure regularly.
Choose the word or group of words which best completes each sentence.
23) Grace took her sister to school……….she went to the office. (a)if (b)so that
(c)until (d)before
24) ……………its raining, I always drive slowly. (a) Although (b)Until (c) When (d)
Nevertheless
25) Boarders may receive visitors……………the Housemaster is informed.
(a)provided that (b) so far (c)in case that (d)considering that
26) There was no meat in the market………..Okon bought some fish. (a)so (b)unless
(c)since (d)in case
27) Bimbo and Dada love........ (a)each other (b)one another (c)themselves (d) themself
28) Of the three books…….is the most difficult? (a)what (b)who (c)which
(d)whose.
29) The students……..should decide whom to elect as the class captain. (a)themselves
(b)themselves (c)theirself (d) theirselves
30) You and…..will play table tennis tomorrow. ( a)me (b) I (c) them (d) myself.
Pick out the odd words from the following.
31. /aʊ / a) tout b) old c) south d) how
32. /eɪ/ a) hate b) hail c) pay d) pry
33. / əʊ/ a) lawn b) tow c) sole d) fold
34. / aɪ / a) bail b) mile c) bite d) pile
35. /ɔɪ/ a) toy b) boy c) yawn d) soil

Choose from the options lettered A-D the one that contains the given
phonetic symbol
36 /ɔɪ/ a) toy b) ball c) yawn d) salt
37. /eɪ/ a) hit b) key c) pay d) mean
38. /eə/ a) air b) fern c) lure d) here
39. /əʊ/ a) lawn b) tow c) took d) fool
40. / i: / a) ear b) earth c) leg d)tea
Choose the correct order of adjectives in the following sentences.
41. The woman is wearing a ______ dress.
A) yellow long B)) long yellow
42. He is a ________ man. tall thin B) thin tall
 43. The company makes ______ products. A) excellent farming
B) farming excellent
44. James recently departed on a ____ trip.
A) Camping long B)) long camping
LITERATURE
`THE PRICELESS JEWEL` WRITTEN BY CHUKS GENERIC
45. Teacher Okarfor is_____________years old when the play started.(A) forty-five (B)
sixty-five (C) fifty-five (D) fifty-three (E) sixty
46. Who is being referred to as `Priceless Jewel`? (A) Teacher Okafor (B) Mrs Okafor (C)
Ogugua (D) Angela (E) Okechukwu
47. Nduka and Aniekwue are to give the village the fine of ---------- for raising machetes at
each other.(A) one-he-goat (B)two-he-goats (C) five-he-goats (D) a goat and a ram(E)
48. Angela represents __________ for four years, (A) Idi Araba Community School(B) Ilode
Community School(C) Ijero Community School (D)Urban Day Community School
(E)Olomina Community School.
49. Opuna and Obion attack __________village. .(A)Nnan (B) Ofuani(C) Olona (D)Ijebu
(E)Oshimiti
ARROW OF DESTINY BY ANN IWUAGWU
Choose the correct option for each question from the following.
50. Cynthia’s mother works in the United States of America as a/ an ………… a) Nurse
b) Architect c) Teacher d) Surgeon.
51. Idris’ sister’s name is…………….. a) Mrs Peters b) Mrs Isa c) Mrs Enejor d)
Ikechukwu
52. Who is Cynthia? a) The prophetess b) The protagonist c) Mrs Isa’s daughter d) Idara’s
friend
53. Cynthia has to relocate back to ………….. due to Idris’ maltreatment.
a) Lagos b) Abuja c) Port- Harcourt d) New GRA.
54. Cynthia’s mother died as a result of…………….. a) heart attack b) childbirth c)
hypertension d) stroke
POETRY: ‘SUCCESS’ by Flourish Amoo and Yinka Akindele
Choose the correct options from the following.
55. According to the poets what is the reward of hard work?
a) Tiredness b) success c) sickness d) riches
56. Which hard-working creature do the poets mention?
a) Lion b) Dog c) Ant d) Bee
57. What holds the key to success?
a) hard work b)laziness c) power d) idleness
58. According to the poets hard work does the following to a person except………. a)hard
work strengthens the body b)prepares you for the future c) kills your body system d) makes
you successful.
59. As busy as bee is an example of _____a) Metaphor b) simile c) hyperbole d) metonym e)
personification
60. In what culture of Nigeria is the ‘Osu’ culture being practised? a) Yoruba b) Efik
c) Igbo d)Hausa e) Ibibio. 60 marks